AP/IB passing rates for DFW area high schools (Dallas: rental car, 2015)

[Walter Benjamin]

Interesting info here. Obvious caveat that some schools encourage lots of students to sit for the exams, regardless of preparation -- where in other schools, only the most prepared students will sign up for the exams.

Dallas, Texas Area School Information: 2014-2015 AB/IB Science - Percent of Students "Passing" Exam
Dallas, Texas Area School Information: 2014-2015 AB/IB English - Percent of Students "Passing" Exam
Dallas, Texas Area School Information: 2014-2015 AB/IB Social Studies - Percent of Students "Passing" Exam


Ranchview HS (C-FB) is #1 in English, #9 in Science, and #23 in Social Studies. By comparison, it's nothing special in SAT or NMSF. I guess there's an elite cohort that focuses more on AP than PSAT? And English is the top, not Science.

Trinity HS (HEB) and Bell HS (HEB) are not far off of Grapevine and Colleyville.

[numbersguy100]

Originally Posted by Walter Benjamin

Interesting info here. Obvious caveat that some schools encourage lots of students to sit for the exams, regardless of preparation -- where in other schools, only the most prepared students will sign up for the exams.

Dallas, Texas Area School Information: 2014-2015 AB/IB Science - Percent of Students "Passing" Exam
Dallas, Texas Area School Information: 2014-2015 AB/IB English - Percent of Students "Passing" Exam
Dallas, Texas Area School Information: 2014-2015 AB/IB Social Studies - Percent of Students "Passing" Exam


Ranchview HS (C-FB) is #1 in English, #9 in Science, and #23 in Social Studies. By comparison, it's nothing special in SAT or NMSF. I guess there's an elite cohort that focuses more on AP than PSAT? And English is the top, not Science.

Trinity HS (HEB) and Bell HS (HEB) are not far off of Grapevine and Colleyville.

The DISD pass rates outside TAG and SEM are abysmal. Even Booker T is pretty embarrassing. I wonder how much money the district wastes a year on AP entrance fees.

[Walter Benjamin]

Originally Posted by numbersguy100

The DISD pass rates outside TAG and SEM are abysmal. Even Booker T is pretty embarrassing. I wonder how much money the district wastes a year on AP entrance fees.

There's this theory, put forward by Jay Mathews, that pushing even weak students to take AP exams helps those students advance, even if they don't actually pass the exams.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...99b_story.html

I have been rating high schools since 1998 with an index that measures the portion of students taking AP, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education courses and tests, not how well the students perform on them... After 31 years watching and interviewing hundreds of AP and IB teachers who welcome everyone into their classes, I am convinced that schools that challenge average or even below-average students that way have the right idea.

Mathews has influence because, as a Washington Post reporter, he put together the "Challenge Index" that rewards high schools for pushing lots of students to take the AP exams, regardless of the students' level, and this is the basis of the WP best school list that gets so much publicity.

But I wonder if anyone's actually tested out this theory of his. It seems... kind of doubtful to me. But I would reserve judgment.

[numbersguy100]

Originally Posted by Walter Benjamin

There's this theory, put forward by Jay Mathews, that pushing even weak students to take AP exams helps those students advance, even if they don't actually pass the exams.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...99b_story.html

I have been rating high schools since 1998 with an index that measures the portion of students taking AP, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education courses and tests, not how well the students perform on them... After 31 years watching and interviewing hundreds of AP and IB teachers who welcome everyone into their classes, I am convinced that schools that challenge average or even below-average students that way have the right idea.

Mathews has influence because, as a Washington Post reporter, he put together the "Challenge Index" that rewards high schools for pushing lots of students to take the AP exams, regardless of the students' level, and this is the basis of the WP best school list that gets so much publicity.

But I wonder if anyone's actually tested out this theory of his. It seems... kind of doubtful to me. But I would reserve judgment.

1) That theory is put forward by a person whose work is validated by believing it. It's called talking your book.
2) There has to be a substantial amount of skew in the results. Teachers in poorly performing schools have so few passing students each year, that they probably aren't confident in their ability to figure out who will be successful, so they just tell everyone to take the exam anyways. It's free to the students, so there's little incentive to discourage them. Meanwhile, teachers in the suburban schools who routinely produce high numbers of passing students can probably figure out which students are likely to pass. So they're not likely to encourage very low performing students with a marginal chance at passing to take the exams. Meanwhile, parents pay for the tests themselves so there isn't an incentive to take the test knowing there is a high likelihood of getting a 1 or 2.

[unknown00]

to no surprise, Plano + Frisco on top

where are the people that said i was wrong when i said Coppell always ranked lower than those 2?

[rantanamo]

doesn't mean they have some magic formula for every kid. Parental careers are a huge predictor for things like this.

[OldyGoldy]

I'm rather surprised by Liberty High, Coppell High and Highland Park High School's rankings. All three are blessed with affluent and educated parents.

[Big G]

Been down this road many times before, but...

HP, for one, requires EVERY student in an AP class to take the associated test. In contrast, Plano ISD does not. That will skew the results, as Plano kids who are unlikely to pass the exam won't bother to take it.

[OldyGoldy]

Originally Posted by Big G

Been down this road many times before, but...

HP, for one, requires EVERY student in an AP class to take the associated test. In contrast, Plano ISD does not. That will skew the results, as Plano kids who are unlikely to pass the exam won't bother to take it.

Which districts require all students to take AP exams, which pay for it and which leave it up to their students. What are the pros and cons of each practice?

[Ramona72]

Originally Posted by Big G

Been down this road many times before, but...

HP, for one, requires EVERY student in an AP class to take the associated test. In contrast, Plano ISD does not. That will skew the results, as Plano kids who are unlikely to pass the exam won't bother to take it.

And not only that, but some districts do not allow students to take an AP class unless they make certain grades in a prerequisite class. The more open the enrollment and/or the more mandatory the test, the lower the passing rate.